Attachment means and barrel storage structure employing same



A. N. KONSTANT 3,368,690

ATTACHMENT MEANS AND BARREL STORAGE STRUCTURE EMPLO'YING SAME Feb. 13, 1968 2 Sheets-Shen l Filed Dec. 27, 1965 |:lG.|v

Feb. 13, 1968 A. N,I KoNsTANT ATTACHMENT MEANS AND BARREL STORAGE STRUCTURE EMPLOYING SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 27, 1965 FIG 3v FIG 5 INVENTOR. 2 ANTHONY N. KONSTANT BY OQMIAM, :Qt/60M@ mm/ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,368,690 ATTACHMENT NmANS AND BARREL STGRAGE STRUCTURE EMPLOYING SAME Anthony N. Konstant, Mount Prospect, Ill., assignor to Speedrack Inc., Skokie, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 516,246 13 |Claims. (Cl. 211-71) ABSTRACT GF DISCLQSURE Attachment means for supporting a horizontal rail from a vertical column. Bolt members having portions bent at an angle to each other are employed with one portion pivotally supported in holes passing horizontally through the column. The rail is supported on a plate member having a lower ledge portion on which the rail rests and a hole through which the other portion of the bolt member passes. The support member may be constructed to offset the rail from the vertical so that the upper surface of the rail slopes downward from the column, and the use of parallel facing pairs of `rails supported in this manner provides a storage unit wherein barrels having convex sidewalls can be easily stored, which also incorporates fore-and-aft walkways for moving such barrels into and out of storage positions.

This invention relates generally to structures and, more particularly, to an improved structure adapted for the storage of goods and to improved members and attachment means for such a structure.

There is a growing use of structures made of prefabricated, standardized, interchangeable elements for a variety of applications. Such structures are especially suitable for storing goods where considerations such as efficient and economic utilization of available space, rapid access to selected goods, ease of assembly and `disassembly of the structure and adaptability for storage of goods having widely varying sizes, shapes and weights are most important. Among desirable characteristics of such structures is the use Wherever possible of inexpensive structural materials and members. For example, it is usually preferable to use weaker and less expensive materials such as wood for a member whose primary purpose is to define storage locations or support goods while using stronger materials such as steel where support of the entire structure is the main purpose of the member.

One type of such structure which has been found to be particularly useful in a variety of applications has been in the form of a three dimensional rectilinear lattice or grid, in which certain elements extending in one direction are in the form of horizontally extending wooden rails on which the goods rest either directly or on horizontally extending platforms which in turn are supported by the rails. In such a structural form it is desirable to have means of disengageably attaching .the rails to the vertical members of the structure and of attaching the rails to each other in end-to-end relationship, which attachment means is simple and inexpensive in construction and installation.

A particular use for such a structure is the storage of barrels of alcohol during the aging process in making whiskey. Economy of space and materials in this application is especially important because the cost of maintaining an inventory for the long period of aging represents an unusually high portion of the cost of preparing whiskey for marketing. This type of storage presents unique problems, however, since whiskey barrels commonly have convex sidewalls. As a result, storage of the barrels with their axes horizontal is difficult due to the instability of a barrel resting on its side on a horizontal platform or ICC horizontal rails. Yet storage of the barrels in this position is desirable because barrels are considerably easier to handle when they can be rolled on their sides.

Accordingly, there is a need for improved storage structures and improved members thereof, and attachment means therefor.

It is, therefore, an object of the present'invention to provide an improved storage structure of the lattice or grid type.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved means for attaching disengageable structural members to one another.

A more specific object is to provide an improved attachment means for structural members with which horizontally extending members may be securely attached to one another in end-to-end relationship as well as -to vertical members.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a structural member attachment means which is strong and holds the -members firmly in place and which is adapted for use with known structural elements of the grid or lattice type.

Yet another object is to provide a grid type storage structure in which relatively large numbers of storage locations may be defined and the goods supported by horizontally extending structural members made of an inexpensive material such as wood.

Still another object is to provide a storage structure which is particularly adapted for the storage of large quantities of barrels and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a storage structure showing various of the features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the storage structure of FIGURE l taken along line 2 2;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary top view of one of the attachments shown in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary front view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side view taken along line 5 5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded fragmentary perspective View of a portion of the structure shown in FIGURES 3-5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the structure shown in FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of a modified form of the structure of FIG. 6; and

FIGURE 9 is a view of a part of the structure of FIG- URE 8.

Generally, an improved structure 10 in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of spaced vertically extending support elements or columns 12 which are connected to one another by generally parallel horizontally extending beams 14, which as illustrated extend from one side to the other of the structure. The respective columns 12 and beams 14 are attached to one another 'by suitable connection means 15, such as the illustrated structural locks. Horizontally extending rails 17 which are adapted to support goods to be stored extend transversely to the beams from the front to the rear of the illustrated struct-ure. The rails 17 are supported by the columns via improved attachment means 18 and also serve to interconnect the columns from the front to the rear of the structure. The columns 12, as illustrated, are generally in the form of channels with re-entrant flanges and are rigidly attached at their lower ends to base members 21.

In order to strengthen the structure 10 and prevent swaying, at appropriate positions, adjacent columns 12 in a front-to-rear plane are interconnected by horizontal braces 22 and diagonal braces 24, thus forming bents (FIG. 7). As illustrated, two diagonal braces are provided between pairs of adjacent horizontal braces 22. The horizontal braces 22 and diagonal braces 24 are rigidly attached, as by welding, to the columns 12.

The columns 12 as indicated are C-shaped in cross section, a shape which is preferred, for its high strength and low weight per unit length. Other suitable cross sectional shapes may be used.

The beams 14 are in end-abutting relationship to the columns 12 and are secured thereto by the connecting means 15. Connecting means which are especially suitable for the firm but releasable attachment of beams to columns are the structurallocks described in detail in U.S. Patents Nos. 2,932,368 and 3,186,527. In One embodiment of such a lock, which is particularly adapted for use in a storage structure such as that illustrated, each column 12 is formed with at least two vertically extending hat faces 28 and 30 which are substantially parallel to each other and to the beams 14. The faces 28 and 30 are perpendicular to at least one other vertically extending fiat face 32 of the column 12. Such a shape for the columns provides for efficient locking of the beams 14 to the columns 12 through the lock 15. As illustrated, the face 28 forms the web of the channel in the cross section of the columns 12 while the numeral 30 designates the two re-entrant anges. The columns 12 have a plurality of horizontally aligned and vertically spaced holes designated by the numerals 34 and 35 in their faces 28 and 30, and along both edges of the columns, which holes, as illustrated, are circular.

The beams 14 may be constructed with any suitable cross section. The locks which are the subject of the previously mentioned patents are not described in detail herein. It should suffice to note that they may include an angle iron lplate 37 which is welded to the end of each beam 14 with one leg abutting the face 28 of the columns and which is provided with apertures 3S (FIG. 2) that register with the holes 34 and 35. The other leg of the plate 37 abuts the face 32 of the column 12. The lock also includes a removable locking pin 39 (FIG. l) which detachably interconnects the plate 37 to the column 12.

As previously noted, the columns 12 are interconnected from the front to the rear of the structure lby rails 17 which they support. The rails 17 are preferably formed of an inexpensive material, such as wood, and in practice conventional 3 x 4" timbers are preferred although other materials and other dimensions might be used .if desired. The rails 17, in any event desirably have a rectangular cross section and are secured to the columns 12 and the improved attachment means designated generally by the numeral 18.

This attachment means 18, as shown in detail in FIG- URES 3-6, is utilized to join two rails 17a and 17b in abutting end-to-end relationship (see FIG, as well as to attach them to the columns 12. However, at the front and rear ends of the structure and at locations where two rails are not spliced together, a modified form of the attachment means 18 is employed which consists generally of that portion of the attachment means 18 which supports the right hand rail 17a in FIG. 5. Generally, the attachment means 18 includes at least one linking member or bolt 40, a supporting member or hanger 42 and fastening member or nut 43, and it is this form which the modified attachment means referred to above actually takes. As illustrated, when the attachment means 18 is utilized to join two rails 17, a second linking member or bolt 44 and a second fastening member or nut 45 associated therewith are also employed.

More specifically, the illustrated hanger 42 is positioned generally between the column 12 and the rails 17a and 17b and includes a rectangular side plate portion 46 which abuts the side 32 of the column, an upper flange 48 adjacent the upper edge of the plate portion 46 and a lower fiange or ledge 50 adjacent the bottom edge of the plate portion 46. The rail 17a and the rail 17b rest on the lower flange 50.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the illustrated upper flange 48 is generally perpendicular to the side plate portion 46, and the lower flange v50 forms an angle with the side plate portion 46 of about 96. The lower flange 50 is sucient'ly wide that its upper surface provides an adequate support for the rails 17a and 17h. In the illustrated ernbodiment, where the rails are 3" x 4" timbers resting on one `of their short sides, a lower flange width of 1" is considered satisfactory. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the distance between the flanres 48- and 50 should be less than the height of the side surface of the rail which it abuts. The upper flange 48 is narrower than the lower flange Sli and is so dimensioned to space the upper portion of a rail 17 from the column 12 to tilt the bottom face of the rail 17 of rectangular cross section from the horizontal plane at sufcient angle so this face rests squarely on the surface of the lower flange 5i). As an example, where the distance between the flanges (the height of the plate portion 46) is 2%" and the lower flange and plate portion form an angle of approximately 96, the upper ange should be 1/2 inch wide.

The side plate portion 46 is also provided with at least one aperture 52 near its upper end to accommodate the. linking member 40 (which is all that is required in the modified version -of the attachment means which supports only one rail). In the illustrated attachment means 18 the plate portion 46 is provided with two horizontally aligned apertures 52 and 54 which are spaced apart a greater distance than the distance between the opposite faces 28 and 30 of the column 12. The two linking bolts 40 and 44 extend through the apertures 52 and 54 which are suitably oversize with respect to the diameter of the bolts to accommodate the disposition of the bolts which is not perpendicular to the plate portion (see FIG. 4).

As best seen in FIG. 5, the apertures 52 and 54 are spaced about equal distances from the ends of the hanger 42. However', in the mounted location, the aperture 52 lies closer to the face 30 of the column 12 than the aperture 54 does to the face 28. The rails 17a and 17b are provided with transverse passageways 56 and 57, respectively extending between their generally vertical sides which passageways register with the apertures 52 and 54 when the rails are mounted in endtoend abutting relationship, resting on the flange 5f). The passageways 56 and 57 are so dimensioned as to accommodate the linking bolts 4G and 44.

Attachment between the column 12 and the rails 17a and 17b is accomplished by the linking bolts 40 and 44, which are rods of .330 steel wire with threaded ends. The first linking bolt 46 is in the shape of an L with perpendicular legs or linking portions 5S and 60. The short leg 58 extends horizontally through the column 12 via a pair of the aligned holes 34 and 35 in the faces 28 and 30. The leg 58 remains rotatable in the holes 34 and 35 and is secured therein against longitudinal lmovement by a nut 62 on its end adjacent the .face 28. The longer leg 6i) remains pivotal about the short leg 5S in the vertical plane. The leg 6i) is passed through the aperture 54 in the hanger 42 and through the passageway S6 in the rail 17a. The rail is secured in this position by tightening the nut 43 on the threaded end of the longer leg 60 until the oppos1te face of the rail 17a is seated against the edge of the upper flange 48 of the hanger. As can `be seen in FIG. 4, the upper surface of the rail 17a slants downward slight-ly from the column 12, is squarely seated on the lower flange Sti and clamped securely adjacent the side face 32 of the column 12.

The second linking member or bolt 44 has two perpendicular legs or linking portions 66 and 68 connected by an offset portion 7i), as may be seen most clearly in FIGURE 6. The plane defined by upper leg 65 and the offset portion 70 is about perpendicular to the lower leg 68. The upper leg 66 extends horizontally through the column 12, residing rotatably in the pair of holes 34 and 35 next above the -holes wherein the leg `58 of the first bolt 40 resides. A nut 72 on the threaded end of the upper leg 66 prevents undesired longitudinal movement of the leg in the holes and leaves the lower leg 68 pivotal in a vertical plane parallel to the face 28 of the column 12. The offset portion 70 extends downwardly and away from the face 28 of the column 12 to the vertical level of the leg 58 of the first bolt 40. The lower leg 68 which is bent about perpendicular to the offset portion 70' passes through the aperture 54 in the hanger 42 and through the passageway 57 in the rail 17b. The nut 45 is tightened on the threaded end of the lower leg 58 until the opposite face of the rail 17b is seated against the edge of the upper fiange 48 of the hanger 42. The nut 45 clamps the rail 17b and the hanger 42 securely to the side face 32 of the column 12 with the rail 17b in the same slanted attitude as the rail 17a, the end of which it abuts.

The attachment means provides a simple and efficient device for supporting a horizontal rail of rectangular cross section adjacent the side of a vertical column, with the upper surface on the rail angularly disposed a desired amount from the horizontal. The simple device incorporates the lower supporting flange 50 which facilitates the quick mounting of a wooden timber, as a rail, using only a single bolt, e.g. bolt 40, because of the support afforded the wooden timber 'by having the bottom `of the rail 17 rest squarely on the upper surface of the lower flange 50. This feature provides a good plane of support which not only significantly reduces the tendency of the wooden rail (when loaded) to split at the location of the transverse passageway 56 but also serves to support the wooden rail even if splitting should occur.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, the disposition of a complementary pair of wooden rails 17 supported in this manner provides for efficient, somewhat trough-like, storage for wooden barrels 80 of the illustrated shape having convex sidewalls. As can be seen from FIGURES 1 and 2, the improved structure includes complementary pairs of rails 17 arranged to form a plurality of storage troughs which are superposed one above the other at appropriate vertical levels to constitute what is termed a vertical bay. The attitude of the complementary rails provides a stable support for the barrel and permits the barrels to be easily rolled fore-and-aft therealong.

To facilitate the loading and unloading of barrels 80 from the overall storage structure, an open aisle is provided in the overall array after every two vertical bays. To provide this aisle, a short beam 82 is employed to both interconnect the adjacent columns 12 on either side and to also support a walkway, such as a plank 84, which stretches fore-and-aft from the front to the rear of the bays. The aisle gives a workman enough room to move along each storage trough and roll the barrels therealong, assuring that each of the barrels is rolled as far to the rear as possible so that the maximum desired number of barrels is accommodated on each pair of rails 17.

Inasmuch as it is anticipated that barrel storage structures of this type will be of greater fore-and-aft depth than the normally available lengths of wooden timbers, the.illustrated attachment means 18 is especially Valuable because it not only supports a rail adjacent the side of the vertical column 12 but also efficiently splices a pair of rails 17a and 17b in end-to-end abutting relationship so that these two rails act substantially as one continuous rail. Moreover, the illustrated design of the attachment means 18 facilitates ease in installation which is an important feature in hanging relatively heavy wooden timber at various vertical heights. Because the legs 60 and 68 of the linking bolts are both pivotal in vertical planes, the hanger 42 can be easily installed on the ends 0f the bolts 40 and 44 after they have been set at the desired vertical locations in the Icolumns 12, Moreover, once installed on the legs 60 and 68, the hanger 46 remains substantially in place -by friction while the wooden timber is raised into position, Furthermore, the pivotal feature of each of the legs 60 and 68 facilitates the manipulation of the bolt leg to align it with the passageway in the timber while the timber is being seated on the lower flange 50.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the above-described structure without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, if the attachment means is desired to merely support and splice together a pair of horizontal rails in end-to-end abutting relationlship while locating these rails with their upper surfaces horizontal, rather than with the slanted attitude illustrated, a modified version of the hanger 42 may be employed which omits the upper flange 48 and employs a lower flange 50 bent perpendicular to the plate portion 46.

Another modified embodiment of the attachment means is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. In this modification, a column 112 is employed which has pairs of holes 134 and which run transverse to the rails 117, rather than parallel to them as in the case of the holes 34, 35 in the columns 12.

A hanger 42 is employed which is substantially the same as that illustrated in FIG. 6, with the exception that it may be desirable to space the holes 52 and 54 close-r ,together depending upon the depth of the columns 112. Because the holes 134 and 135 run transverse to the rails 117, the linking members need not have legs which are perpendicular to each other. Accordingly, a first linking member is employed which is adapted to connect rails 117 on both sides of a column 112 thereto, The linking member 140 is formed with a pair of first linking end portions 160 which are connected by a second or central linking portion which resides in and spans the width of the column 112 in the assembled condition shown in FIG. 8.

When this modified attachment means 118 is used, the first linking member 140 is placed in position in the column 112 at the desired vertical height. The hangers 42 are then installed, and next the rails 117 are put in place. The rails 117 are secured by installing and tightening nuts 143. If a pair of rails 117g and 117b are to be spliced at this point using the hanger 42, a second linking member 144 having the same shape as the first linking member 140 is used.

Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Attachment means for attaching a first horizontal rail member to a vertical column member having holes extending generally horizontally therethrough comprising, a rail member, a first linking member having first and second linking portions generally perpendicular to one another, said second linking portion being adapted to be positioned in holes in the column member, a supporting member having a vertical portion for disposition adjacent the side of the column and a lower ledge portion connected to the lower end of said vertical portion, said vertical portion having a first aperture extending therethrough, said first linking portion extending through said first aperture and through a transverse passageway in the first rail member, the lower surface of the first -rail resting upon the upper surface of said lower ledge portion, and a first fastening member operatively connected to the end of sald first linking portion for securing the first rail member and said supporting member to the column member.

2. Attachment means according to claim 1 wherein the rail member has a rectangular cross section, wherein said lower ledge portion of said supporting member forms an angle of more than 90 with said plate portion thereof, and wherein said supporting member includes an upper flange portion extending away from said plate portion in the same general direction as said lower ledge portion, said upper flange portion being spaced vertically above said lower ledge portion a distance less than the vertical dimension of the rail member and lbeing of sutlicient width to so space the upper portion of the rail member from said vertical portion of said supporting member that the upper surface of the rail member slant downwardly and away from said column member and the bottom surface of the rail member rests squarely on the upper surface of said lower ledge portion.

3. Attachment means according to claim 2 wherein said first linking portion of said first linking member is pivotally movable in a vertical plane perpendicular to the rail member.

4. Attachment means accordin-g to claim 1 adapted for attaching the rst rail member in end-toend relationship to a second horizontal rail member, wherein said vertical portion of said supporting member includes second aperture means spaced from said first aperture means a distance greater than the thickness of said column, and wherein there is included a second linking member having first and second linking portions generally perpendicular to one another and an offset intermediate portion joining said first and second linking portions, said second linking portion of said second linking member being adapted to be positioned in holes in said column member located above the holes in which said second linking portion of said first linking member is adapted to be positioned, said first linking portion of said second linking member extending through said second aperture means and being adapted to extend through a transverse passageway in the second rail member, the bottom surface of the second rail member being adapted to rest on the upper surface of said lower flange, and a second fastening member operatively connected to the end of said first linking portion of said second linking member for securing the second rail member to the column member and in end-to-end relationship to the first rail member.

5. Attachment means according to claim 2 adapted for attaching the first rail member in end-to-end relationship to a second horizontal rail member, wherein said vertical portion of said supporting member includes second aper ture means spaced from said first aperture means a dis tance greater than the thickness of said column, and wherein there is included a second linking member having first and second linking portions generally perpendicular to one another and an offset intermediate portion joining said first and second linking portions, said second linking portion of said second linking member being adapted to be positioned in holes in said column member located above the holes in which said second linking portion of said first linking member is adapted to be positioned, said first linking portion of said second linking member extending through said second aperture means and being adapted to extend through a transverse passageway in the second rail member, the bottom surface of the second rail member being adapted to rest on the upper surface of said lower flange, and a second fastening member operatively connected to the end of said first linking portion of said second linking member for securing the second rail mernber to the column member and in end-to-end relationship to the first rail member.

6. Attachment means according to claim 5, wherein said first linking portions of both said first and said second linking members are pivotally movable in vertical planes.

7. An improved structure for the storage of barrels having convex sidewalls, comprising a plurality of spaced apart vertical columns having a plurality of vertically spaced holes therealong, a plurality of generally parallel horizontal first and second beams interconnecting said columns in a transverse direction, said beams being connected to said columns via said holes at the appropriate vertical level, said first beams having a length greater than the height of a barrel, a plurality of pairs of generally parallel fore-and-aft extending horizontal wooden rails of rectangular cross section, said rails being positioned perpendicular to said beams for supporting the barrels and for interconnecting said columns in a fore-and-aft direction, attachment means for securely supporting said rails adjacent the sides of said columns interconnected by said first beams via said vertically spaced holes and for splicing two aligned wooden timbers in end-to-end relationship to each other to provide one of said rails, said attachment means supporting said rails with the upper surfaces thereof slanted downward and away from the adjacent side of said supporting column so that said pairs of rails provide a trough-like barrel rack, a plurality of pairs of rails being supported on the same columns at various vertical heights to provide a bay of superposed barrel storage racks, said horizontal second beams being connected to the columns on one side of each of said bays, said second beams being shorter than the height of a barrel and providing an open aisle adjacent one side of each bay, and walkway means supported on various of said second beams to provide access for a worker to a location adjacent each of said barrel storage racks along the length thereof in `a fore-and-aft direction.

8. An improved structure for the storage of barrels in accordance with claim 7 wherein said attachment means includes a first linking member having first and second linking portions generally perpendicular to one another, said second linking portion being positioned in holes in said column, a supporting member having a vertical portion disposed adjacent the side of the column and a lower ledge portion connected to the lower end of said vertical portion, said vertical portion having a first aperture extending therethrough, said first linking portion extending through said first aperture and through a transverse passageway in a first rail member, the lower surface of the first rail resting upon the upper surface of said lower ledge portion, and a first fastening member operatively connected to the end of said first linking portion securing the first rail member and said supporting member to the column.

9. An improved structure according to claim S wherein said lower ledge portion of said supporting member forms an angle of more than with said plate portion thereof, and wherein said supporting member includes an upper flange portion extending away from said plate portion in the same general direction as said lower ledge portion, said upper flange portion being spaced vertically above said lower ledge portion a distance less than the vertical dimension of the rail member and being of sufficient width to so space the upper portion of the rail member from said vertical portion of said supporting member that the upper surface of the rail member slants downwardly and away from said column and the bottom surface of the rail member rests squarely on the upper surface of said lower ledge portion.

10. An improved structure according to claim 9 wherein said vertical portion of said supporting member includes second aperture means spaced from said first aperture means a distance greater than the thickness of said column, and wherein there is included a second linking member having first and second linking portions generally perpendicular to one another and an offset intermediate portion joining said first and second linking portions, said second linking portion of said second linking member being positioned in holes in said column located above the holes in which said second linking portion of said first linking member is positioned, said first linking portion of said second linking member extending through said second aperture means and through a transverse passageway in the second rail member, the bottom ,surface of the second rail member resting on the upper surface of said lower ledge, and a second fastening member operatively connected to the end of said first linking portion of said second linking member for securing the second rail member to the column and in end-to-end relationship to the first rail member.

11. Attachment means for attaching a first horizontal rail member having a rectangular cross section to a vertical column member having holes extending generally horizontally therethrough comprising a first linking member having first and second linking portions disposed at an angle to each other, said second linking portion being adapted to be positioned in holes in the column member, a supporting member having a vertical plate portion for disposition adjacent the side of the column and a lower ledge portion connected to the lower end of said vertical plate portion and an upper ange portion extending away from said vertical plate portion in the same general direction as said lower ledge portion, said vertical plate portion having a rst aperture extending therethrough, said lower ledge portion forming an angle of more than 90 with said vertical plate portion thereof, said first linking portion extending through said lirst aperture and being adapted to extend through a transverse passageway in the first rail member, the lower surface of the iirst rail being adapted to rest upon the upper surface of said lower ledge portion, said upper ilange portion being spaced vertically above said lower ledge portion a distance less than the vertical dimension of the rail member and being of sufficient width to so space the upper portion of the rail member from said vertical portion of said supporting member that the upper surface of the rail member slants downwardly and away from said column member and the bottom surface of the rail member rests squarely on the upper surface of said lower ledge portion, and a first fastening member operatively connected to the end of said first linking portion for securing the first rail member and said supporting member to the column member.

12. Attachment means according to claim 11 wherein said iirst linking member is adapted to extend completely through said column member and contains a pair of rst linking portions one at each end of said second linking portion, and wherein one of said supporting members is associated with each of said iirst linking portions, said pair of iirst linking portions being adapted to support horizontal rails on opposite sides of said column member.

13. Attachment means according to claim 11 wherein said vertical portion of said supporting member includes a second aperture spaced from saidfirst aperture, wherein there is included a second linking member of the same configuration of said first linking member which second linking member extends through said second aperture and is adapted to extend through a transverse passageway in a second rail member, and wherein there is a second fastening member operatively connected to the end of the iirst linking portion of said second linking member for securing the second rail member to said column member and in end-to-end relationship to the irst rail member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,739,403 12/ 1929 Lundberg 211-71 2,072,699 3/1937 Ansel 211-71 2,406,937 `9/ 1946 Zabriskie 211-71 X 3,186,527 6/1965 Konstant et al. 287-189.35

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

